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Godber Family History

Godber Surname Meaning

English (Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire):: most probably a nickname from Middle English god(e) gud(e) ‘good’ + b(i)er ‘beer’ a metonymic occupational name for a brewer or a nickname for a toper. Compare Goodall.

Alternatively, perhaps a nickname from a medieval catchphrase either God be her ‘May God be here (i.e. in this house)’ or gōd be her ‘may good be here’. Such phrasal names were common in England in the Middle Ages although most have now died out.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


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Where is the Godber family from?

You can see how Godber families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Godber family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Godber families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 208 Godber families living in Nottinghamshire. This was about 30% of all the recorded Godber's in United Kingdom. Nottinghamshire had the highest population of Godber families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Godber surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
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What did your Godber ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, General Labourer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Godber. 17% of Godber men worked as a General Labourer and 83% of Godber women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Godber were Motor Driver and Household Duties.

View Census Data for Godber | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations In 1939

  • General Labourer
    17%
  • Colliery Hewer
    17%
  • Insurance Agent
    7%
  • Motor Driver
    7%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    83%
  • Housewife
    3%
  • Unpaid Domestic Dut
    2%
  • Household Duties
    2%

What Godber family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 13,000 census records available for the last name Godber. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Godber census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Godber

Passenger Lists

There are 1,000 immigration records available for the last name Godber. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the UK, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Godber immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 891 military records available for the last name Godber. For the veterans among your Godber ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Godber military records

You've only scratched the surface of Godber family history

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What is the average Godber lifespan?

Between 1966 and 2004, in the United States, Godber life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1979, and highest in 2002. The average life expectancy for Godber in 1966 was 71, and 77 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Godber

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Godber ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

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